My research is in the development of new protein-based biomaterials for non-aqueous biocatalysis. The main focus of which will enable us to move from an oil-based economy to a bio-based economy. Essentially, nature has many tools for the utilisation of biomass for the various building blocks of life. However, the processes are far too slow to be used in their current form to make the fuels, chemicals, and plastics we require for modern living. The question, which my research aims to answer, can we make biological systems more compatible with synthetic systems, such that we can fully exploit nature’s toolkit to make our own industry more sustainable and more environmentally friendly.

Specifically, my main research interests are:

Biocatalysis in ionic liquids

Nonaqueous enzymes

Biophysics of proteins in unnatural environments

Biomaterials

Functional hybrid materials

Protein engineering

A summary of my research can be found here, and a list of publications can be found here.